Device for sealing preserving-jars



(N0 Model)- G. FUERTH. DEVICE FOR SEALING PRESERVING JARS.

Patented June 9, 1896.

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.PNUTOLHNQWASHINGTOMEC UNITED STATES PATENT rerun.

GEORGE FUERTII, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR SEALING PRESERVING-JARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,783, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed November 27, 1895. Qerial No. 570,253. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FUERTH, of Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Sealing PreservingJars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an improved de vice for sealing preserving-jars, hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Figure l is a vertical central section through a preserving-jar and the sealing device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stopper. Fig. 3is

a top plan view thereof; Fig. 4, aperspective of a locking-wire which may be used; and Fig. 5 is a perspective, partly broken away, of the elastic cap. W

A represents a preserving-jar, which may be of any suitable form or size. The neck of said jar is formed, as here shown, with an exteriiallyprojecting ring B around its mouth and with an internal annular ledge 0 within its mouth. D represents the stopper, which, as shown, is provided with a shoulder E to rest 011 said ledge. For convenience of manipulation the stopper D may be provided on its upper surface with a crossbar F and a cavity G on each side thereof to receive the fingers of the operator. I prefer to make the stopper D of glass, though other suitable substance may be used.

II represents a cap, of rubber, the edge L of which is preferably thickened to draw the edge closely around the neck of the jar below the ring B. This cap II is preferably made so that it will completely cover the whole top of the jar when the stopper is in place and extend down under the ring B, and I prefer to provide it at some point with asmall aperture M.

0 represents a wire, and P a seal, preferably of lead or other soft metal, through which wires 0 run. This device may be used, if desired, to clamp the open end of cap H around the neck of jar A by passing said wire around the neck of said jar and the cap, letting the wire rest just above the thickened edge L of said cap, and then drawing the wire tight and securing it either by twisting or bending or by compressing the seal P.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Jar A having been filled with a substance to be preserved,which may be fruit, stopper D is placed in position and cap H then slipped into position, as shown in Fig. 1, after which the jar, with its contents, may be subjected to heat, if necessary. If the jar is subjected to heat, so as to further expand the contents beyond the capacity of the jar, either contained air or gas or liquid forces its way out through the joining between the jar and stopper and finds an easy exit through the aperture M. IVhen the contents of the jar cool, a partial vacuum is formed within the jar, and external air-pressure forces the cap II down upon and sometimes partially into the joint be tween the stopper and jar, thus forming a tight and effectual seal. If for any reason fermentation ensues in the contents of the can, the gases of fermentation can escape freely, and the loosening of cap H from the joint indicates that such process is going on within the jar, when the proper steps may be taken to stop such fermentation.

I prefer to use a cap H having a complete top, as shown in the drawings; but of course the portion of said cap which performs the functions above pointed out is principally that which lies over the joint between the stopper and jar, and that portion of the jar which lies within the line of cavity of the stopper, as indicated in Fig. 1, may be omitted without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a jar having an annular, external ring around its mouth, and an annular, internal ledge within its mouth, a stopper fitting the mouth and having an annular shoulder resting on the ledge, an elastic rubber cap fitting over the jar-mouth and stopper and having its edge or margin extending under the external ring of the jarmouth, a wire encircling the edge or marginal portion of the cap and confining the same under said ring, and a soft--metal seal engaged with and connecting the end portions of the wire, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a jar having an external ring around its mouth, of a stopper fitting within the mouth of the jar, an elastic rubber cap fitting over the stopper and jarmouth and having its edge or margin extenda stopper fitting the jar-mouth, an elastic rubber cap fitting over the j ar-month and stopper and having a thickened edge or margin extending under the external ring of the jar-month, a wire for encircling the cap directly above the thickened edge or margin thereof, and a seal engaging and connecting the end portions of the wire, substantially as described.

GEORGE FUERTI-I.

Witnesses:

HENRY B. LOTHROP, AMELIA J. WILLIAMS, 

